The Leelanau Conservancyhttp://leelanauconservancy.org
Conserving the Land, Water and Scenic Character of Leelanau CountyTue, 22 May 2018 20:48:03 +0000en-UShourly1Partnerships Make it Happen: Over 1200 Trees Planted at Conservancy Natural Areas in Early Mayhttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/05/15/partnerships-make-happen-1200-trees-planted-conservancy-natural-areas-early-may/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/05/15/partnerships-make-happen-1200-trees-planted-conservancy-natural-areas-early-may/#commentsTue, 15 May 2018 20:43:37 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20239See more photos DeYoung Tree Planting Facebook album. It was a cold grey day but that couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of 120 middle-schoolers from Traverse City’s Greenspire School who arrived at our DeYoung Natural Area, ready to work Their mission? To plant 500 trees provided by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ Natural […]

It was a cold grey day but that couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of 120 middle-schoolers from Traverse City’s Greenspire School who arrived at our DeYoung Natural Area, ready to work

Their mission? To plant 500 trees provided by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ Natural Resources Department as part of a region-wide initiative. “Our goal is to plant native-to-Michigan nuts and fruits species to create landscapes that provide the opportunities for tribal citizens and the wider community to gather healthy foods, to benefit wildlife, to improve water quality, and to adapt to climate change,” says Jonathan Aylward, water quality specialist for the tribe.

Jonathan Aylward, water quality specialist with the Grand Traverse Band d Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, hands off saplings to a Greenspire student. Photo by Leslee Spraggins.

The day began with a “smudge” performed by tribal elder Hank Bailey. Sacred plants such as tobacco or sage are burned, creating a smoke thought to cleanse and heal and provide centering for participants. Bailey is a retired GTB conservation officer but tries to attend as many youth-oriented events, such as tree planting, as much as he can. During the smudge, Hank asked the students to open their minds to what was possible in terms of healing the Earth and creating a sense of community among its people. “I also asked them to think about how our community also takes in the trees, the water and all the plants and animals too.”

The Tribe is creating these edible forests all over the region. Over 10,000 trees have been planted at places like DeYoung, along the Boardman River as well as Belanger Creek’s tribal lands. The project is funded by the Laura Jane Musser Fund’s Environmental Initiative . “Native vegetation enhances water quality,” says Aylward. “Trees like juneberries, highbush cranberry and native plum are also the favorite stuff of wildlife.”

Aylward thought that the task would take two days, but students and volunteers knocked it out in just one. Each tree was marked with a stake and mulched.

Greenspire students give the thumbs up after planting trees at DeYoung. Photo by Mark Smith.

I’m exceptionally proud of the work our little naturalists did,” says Kevin Kelly, Greenspire Superintendent. “They planted in not-so-great weather but they did so with positivity, cooperative spirit and a sense of purpose.” He added that all the kids were filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The day ended with Bailey blowing a whistle made from an eagle bone. “It was a calling to all of our ancestors from north, south, east and west to come and see what we were doing that day, to have them with us and to bless our work,” says Bailey.

Tribal Elder Hank Bailey gave a blessing and talked to the students about how they could make a difference in protecting Mother Earth for future generations. Staff photo.

“That was very moving,” says Aylward. “Hank also talked to the kids about how they could be transformative and bring things back into balance in our environment. I looked around and a lot of the kids were getting teary-eyed. That day was a highlight of my year so far.”

Days later, trees and shrubs were also planted at Chippewa Run Natural Area by Conservancy staff and volunteers. A grant from the Invasive Species Network allowed us to purchase plants geared to improving bird habitat, because birds are so abundant there. The saplings were planted in an area that had been cleared of invasive autumn olive and in the old pine plantation area by the beaver pond.

Volunteer Brian Isham plants trees along the trail at Chippewa Run that were chosen specifically for improving bird habitat since birds are so abundant here.

Finally, At Palmer Woods, with the help of volunteers and AmeriCorps members from around the region, we planted 700 trees where hundreds of dead and dying beech and ash trees were taken down last fall. “Species such as burr oak, shag bark hickory and tulip poplar are trees that are native to Southern Michigan, so we chose those with climate change in mind,” says Becky Hill, Natural Areas Manager. “They will help to diversify this working forest and are well-suited to its habitat.” It will take years—that is the nature of trees, but someday this scarred area will be lush and green once again.

Stay tuned for a more in-depth story to come about the threats to our forests and what we are doing to ensure their long-term health. See more photos of the Greenspire workbee in our DeYoung Tree Planting Facebook album.

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/05/15/partnerships-make-happen-1200-trees-planted-conservancy-natural-areas-early-may/feed/4War on Garlic Mustard–Goats, Volunteers and Dumpstershttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/25/war-garlic-mustard-goats-volunteers-dumpsters/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/25/war-garlic-mustard-goats-volunteers-dumpsters/#respondWed, 25 Apr 2018 14:52:50 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20185Watch this great video of the goats eating garlic mustard by 9&10 News! The Leelanau Conservancy is launching an all-out war on invasive garlic mustard from early May through mid-June and needs your help. Garlic Mustard is a European native with no natural enemies in Michigan. The plant’s rapid growth coupled with massive seed production […]

The Leelanau Conservancy is launching an all-out war on invasive garlic mustard from early May through mid-June and needs your help. Garlic Mustard is a European native with no natural enemies in Michigan. The plant’s rapid growth coupled with massive seed production has led to its quick spread, especially at places like Clay Cliffs Natural Area. Garlic mustard crowds out native plants like spring beauty, trillium and pink lady slippers, which in turn reduces the food supply for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

There is a window of opportunity from early May to early-June to remove this easy-to-pull plant before it goes to seed. The effort to control its spread includes bringing in a herd of goats to knosh a dense stand at Clay Cliffs. Luckily, goats love to eat garlic mustard and will munch plants to the ground before they produce billions of seeds—a practice known as conservation grazing. The goats will be corralled with a temporary solar-powered electric fence.

A company called City Girls will be managing the goats. Thirty of the animals are being generously provided at no charge from Idyll Farms, a goat farm and creamery located near Northport and longtime supporters of the Conservancy.

Staff and volunteers will be freed up to turn their attention to removing this easy-to-pull plant in areas where it is scattered which will help to control its spread. There are five workbees scheduled between May 8 and June 1 (see schedule below). One of them even involves a post-work lunch featuring, what else, garlic mustard.

Finally, there are actions homeowners can take to stop the spread by pulling the plant, which is easy to identify. “It’s really important to bag up what you pull,” says Natural Areas and Preserves Manager Becky Hill. “You definitely don’t want to toss it on the compost pile or into the woods.” Because it is a noxious weed, you are allowed to put sealed bags of garlic mustard into your garbage. Or, take it to a dumpster provided by the Invasive Species Network. One will be located temporarily in the Clay Cliffs parking lot from May 18th until June 8th.

“We hope to have hundreds of volunteers join our war on garlic mustard,” adds Hill. “People can really make a difference in just a couple of hours. Besides that, it’s my favorite time to be at Clay Cliffs. The birds are singing, the wildflowers are just incredible and you might even find a morel or two along the way.”

Garlic Mustard Workbees:

Tuesday, May 8, 1-3 pm at Clay Cliffs Natural Area

Tuesday, May 15th, 10am-noon, Lighthouse West Natural Area

Saturday, May 19th, 9am-noon at Clay Cliffs Natural Area with garlic mustard lunch following at Leland Library

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/25/war-garlic-mustard-goats-volunteers-dumpsters/feed/0“A Personal Conservation Ethic:” Chairman’s Column, April 2018http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/12/personal-conservation-ethic-chairmans-column-april-2018/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/12/personal-conservation-ethic-chairmans-column-april-2018/#respondThu, 12 Apr 2018 19:37:44 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20041A Personal Conservation Ethic Like you, I love Leelanau. We’ve traveled a good bit, but Linda and I chose Leelanau for our part-time residence over 30 years ago, and it’s where we have lived full time since 2010. It simply feels great to be here, and it still seems new. But why Leelanau? What, exactly, […]

Like you, I love Leelanau. We’ve traveled a good bit, but Linda and I chose Leelanau for our part-time residence over 30 years ago, and it’s where we have lived full time since 2010. It simply feels great to be here, and it still seems new.

But why Leelanau? What, exactly, are the sources of our feelings and our dedication to conserving this place?

I got some insight into the sources of my love for Leelanau and my conservation ethic through an exercise during an educational session at the 2017 Land Trust Alliance Rally in Denver. We were asked to turn to the person sitting next to us and in 60 seconds describe why we were committed to conservation. It was easy to do, and I immediately offered a number of logical, science-based reasons, such as preserving biodiversity, protecting important watersheds, etc. Then, we were asked to do it again, but this time make it personal—dig deeper, for the things that were unique to each of us. This took a few moments of reflection, and it’s where the exercise paid off. Here are the first two things that came to mind.

I grew up in a small town on the shore of Lake Erie, west of Cleveland. We lived near the edge of town, and it was easy to get to a wooded area just outside the city limits. I have no idea who owned it, but that’s where my friends and I spent a lot of our free time. I can still remember doing “civil engineering” projects trying to dam the small creek, tracking animals, and watching birds that weren’t seen in the city. These woods were our default location for fun, year-round.

For probably ten years running, my parents would take our family up to a lodge on a small lake about 100 miles north of Toronto for our summer vacation. This covered the period from when I was probably 5 years old until I was 15. It was an old, wooden lodge, that was accessible only by a two-track over some rugged terrain. Our heavily loaded car often bottomed out getting there and, once there, we stayed put. I have many vivid memories of the place, including the “Kodachrome” air, the dark skies, the clear and very cool water of the lake, and the coniferous forest. That’s where I first encountered the wonderful scent of pine straw in the woods on a warm, sunny day.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I now know that the north, in a very pure sense, was being imprinted in me by these youthful experiences. That’s why I need to be up here, and why it’s important to me to preserve Leelanau for future generations. Southern Michigan is wonderful, but it isn’t Leelanau.

Dig deep, and make it personal—what’s your reason for being up here, and being involved? I’d love to hear your story the next time we meet.–Ed Ketterer, Leelanau Conservancy Chairman of the Board. April, 2018

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/04/12/personal-conservation-ethic-chairmans-column-april-2018/feed/0180-Acre Putnam Farm in Omena Forever Protectedhttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/28/180-acre-putnam-farm-omena-forever-protected/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/28/180-acre-putnam-farm-omena-forever-protected/#respondWed, 28 Mar 2018 15:25:36 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20133Having moved to Omena over 30 years ago, the Putnam farm just up the road from where I live is a place I have long worried might turn into a subdivision. I have walked or driven past the farm’s rolling valley and iconic barn hundreds of times. Every time I do, I am so grateful […]

]]>Having moved to Omena over 30 years ago, the Putnam farm just up the road from where I live is a place I have long worried might turn into a subdivision. I have walked or driven past the farm’s rolling valley and iconic barn hundreds of times. Every time I do, I am so grateful that the cherry trees Rennie Putnam planted still stand, and the farm still looks like it might have a century ago.

So it goes without saying that like so many people who love this farm, I am overjoyed to know that 190 acres here are now forever protected, thanks to the heirs of my once-upon-a-time neighbors, Rennie and Esther Putnam. The couple passed away over a decade ago; since then their children have worked with the Leelanau Conservancy to protect the farm. It is now part of a larger block of protected lands adjacent or nearby, including Frazier Freeland Preserve, Saving Birds Thru Habitat’s Charter Sanctuary and private protected lands along Belanger Creek.

Rennie’s Humble Beginnings

I met with Fred Putnam, Rennie’s son, who has been the point person for his family, and later chatted with his sisters, Doris Gilbert and Mildred Connell. The family has sold a conservation easement on the property, which restricts development and lowers the land’s value so that it remains affordable for other farmers.

On a tour in Fred’s truck, he pointed out the property line; a row of pine trees Rennie planted, and talked about his father’s upbringing. Born on the farm in 1916, Rennie was the youngest of five. His father died five years later. Rennie’s mother, Anna, his siblings and nearby relatives kept the farm going. They plowed with horses and planted some of the first fruit in the area.

A Depression bank failure in 1929 wiped out Anna’s $5,000 savings, but the family soldiered on. “They owned the farm and between the cattle and pigs and a huge garden, they could feed themselves,” said Fred, adding that for as long as he could remember, his parents shared garden produce with those less fortunate.

Rennie and Esther Putnam, photo thanks to Doris Gilbert

In 1934, when Rennie turned 18, he bought the then 180-acre farm from his mother. Rennie’s siblings “had had enough of farm life,” said Fred. Brother John owned a gas station and bar in Omena, known today as Knot Just a Bar. Harold, the oldest, became a career army officer. Rennie’s sisters married and moved on.

A Love for Farming

But Rennie loved everything about the farm. To make ends meet, he worked as a carpenter, tending to farm chores at daybreak and in the evening. He married Esther, Fred’s mother, when he was 27. She had also grown up poor and worked hard. “They were incredibly frugal, tracking every penny that came and went, but at the same time we never wanted for anything,” said Fred’s sister, Mildred. Fred recalled his mother putting patches on his father’s clothing long after they could afford to buy new. Growing up in the Depression affected his parents for a lifetime, said Fred.

Mildred said it wasn’t until she was in high school that she realized just how hard her dad worked. “I came home from a babysitting job around 4 am and he was just beginning his day. I realized he did that every day,” said Mildred.

Rennie planted some of the first cherry trees in the area. Photo by Eric Munson.

The siblings have fond memories of growing up on the farm, which eventually grew to 260 acres. Mildred recalled clearing the fields of rocks in the spring with her family, which “made it more fun than work.” They planted pine trees with their dad, and canned pickles with their mom. After chores, Rennie often played hide and seek with them in the barn. “We never found him once,” said Doris. Rennie would climb inside the sprayer to hide, or squeeze outside through a loose board and stand on the shed roof.

In addition to cherries, Rennie grew feed for the cattle and pigs he took to market. “He was a general farmer,” Fred explained. “If cherries had a bad year, he had other ways to make money.” Like his sisters, Fred said that the values his parents taught him, from thrift to hard work to charity, have guided his own life.

Once used for cultivating row crops, this 1949 Oliver tractor sat for years gathering dust. Fred got it running and restored it. Fun fact: the tires each hold 40 gallons of calcium chloride (which won’t freeze) for added weight to help with traction.

Preserving a Sense of Place

Now retired after a career downstate in operations management, Fred spends weeks in Omena, lovingly caring for the barn built by his grandfather. He has re-glazed windows and restored a 1949 tractor. Fred might have taken over the farm but said a unique opportunity to work for publisher R.L. Polk & Co. sent him in a different direction. “I saw myself in the business world and although Dad made a good living, there really wasn’t enough here to support two families.”

The trees Rennie planted are now tended by Cherry Bay Orchards under a lease agreement. Part of the protected land borders our Belanger Creek Preserve. Over a decade ago, Rennie sat down with now-Executive Director Tom Nelson to learn about the Conservancy and his options. “Rennie loved the farm, but wanted to leave the decision for what happened to it to his kids,” said Tom. A few years later, Fred and Tom met around the same kitchen table. “Fred clearly revered his parents and the farm,” added Tom.

The Conservancy applied for federal funds to move the project forward, but the first attempt failed. “It’s a very competitive process and only so much funding is available,” said Tom. “We just missed the cut.”

“Tom really took the bad news to heart,” recalled Fred. “He wanted to make it work. The family talked about bailing and just selling, but I said let’s give it one more go-round.”

The 10-acre home and farmstead complex including the late 1800s barn is not part of the conservation easement. At some point, it will be sold to a lucky buyer. The siblings spent their earliest years in the original cedar shake house nearby, which had no indoor plumbing, and recall their mom heating water for baths in a washtub on the woodstove. “The cleanest one got to go first,” recalled Mildred. Rennie and Esther built the newer yellow house, moving in in 1952, when Fred was seven.

A Deep Sense of Satisfaction

This time the funding came through, which covers half the cost of the purchased easement. The land scored well in part because 93% of the project contains “prime and unique soils.”

Fred and his sisters are happy that the land will continue to produce food—and remain undeveloped. “A lot of the very best farmland downstate is gone,” said Fred. Mildred added, “I would hate to see the land turned into a bunch of two-acre home sites.”

How would Rennie feel if he were alive today? “Dad really loved this land,” said Fred. “My sense is that he would be really pleased.”

“There’s a unique feel to the Omena farming district and its history that is really special,” added Nelson. “And there is a really deep sense of satisfaction in helping it to stay that way.”—By Carolyn Faught, published in March, 2018 (2017 Annual Report/2018 Spring Newsletter).

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/28/180-acre-putnam-farm-omena-forever-protected/feed/0Hatlem Creek Preserve Grows by 72 Acres Thanks to Waldenmyer Familyhttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/27/hatlem-creek-preserve-grows-72-acres-thanks-waldenmyer-family/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/27/hatlem-creek-preserve-grows-72-acres-thanks-waldenmyer-family/#respondTue, 27 Mar 2018 15:30:07 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20136Close-knit Family United in Desire to Protect Fragile Hatlem Creek For everyone who loves Glen Lake and its clean, azure waters, here’s some great news. A close-knit family with a passion for the lake has sold 32 acres, including 1,400 feet of frontage along fragile Hatlem Creek, to the Leelanau Conservancy. The land will be […]

For everyone who loves Glen Lake and its clean, azure waters, here’s some great news. A close-knit family with a passion for the lake has sold 32 acres, including 1,400 feet of frontage along fragile Hatlem Creek, to the Leelanau Conservancy. The land will be added to our lovely Hatlem Creek Preserve, increasing it to a total of 72 acres, and will help to ensure Glen Lake’s pristine water quality forever.

“Certain things are worth waving,” says Brandt Waldenmyer, who took this photo

That’s because Hatlem Creek and the sensitive wetlands surrounding it provide an important source of fresh water to Glen Lake; in fact it is the lake’s main tributary. The federally endangered Michigan Monkey Flower grows on the property, thriving in wet, mucky soils where cool waters flow. Hatlem Creek is also a wildlife haven; state-threatened red-shouldered hawks nest in the closed forest canopy and trout and salmon spawn in the stream.

Gordon and Jann Waldenmyer overlook the now protected land from their log home, built in 1996, and they retain several acres adjacent to the Preserve. The family’s ties to Glen Lake go back to Jann’s parents, who discovered the area in the late 1920s after being invited up by a friend. They purchased Sunset Cottagefrom the Vlack family in 1947 and Jann and her sister spent summers on the lake. Later, she and Gordon brought their children north from Ypsilanti for vacations. Son Brandt was just six days old when his toes were first dipped into Big Glen; daughter Carrlin Neiss, who was born in the winter, had to wait six months as the cottage was not then compatible with Leelanau’s winter winds.

Gordon and Jann Waldenmyer stand in front of the land that expands Hatlem Creek Preserve.

A Family Affair

The Waldenmyers, knowing they wanted to eventually make a permanent home near Glen Lake, found the land along Hatlem Creek in the 1980s and began plans to build. Meanwhile, Jann and her sister shared Sunset Cottage after her parents died, but ever-increasing taxes and advancing age led them to sell in the early 2000s.

Today, Brandt lives with his 80-something parents; Carrlin and her husband own a home and five acres adjacent. All of them revere the land, where they have seen bear lumbering about, otters sliding into the creek and big bucks nibbling on tree seedlings. Carrlin recalls seeing giant snapping turtles emerge from the swamp to dig holes in the sandy soil near her parents’ home. The turtles laid their eggs; after hatching, baby turtles scooted back to the swamp. Brandt talks of hooting back and forth with the barred owls.

A Passion For Preserving this Place

“Whether we stay in the house or not, we would never want to see the land get filled in and developed,” says Brandt. “There’s enough money out there that even the best of regulations are being circumvented and we simply didn’t want to see that. Any sort of cutting of trees there would totally change the ecology. Certain things are worth saving.”

Their parents say they contacted the Leelanau Conservancy after reading articles in the Leelanau Enterprise about other landowners who had protected land, including their late friend Glen Noonan. Gordon was wary at first; Jann was without reservations. But as they saw more and more land being developed, Gordon came around. “Man can’t do what Mother Nature does, the way I look at it,” he says.

Conservation Easement Program Manager Yarrow Brown, who worked with the family over the last few years, calls it a “feel good project for both the land and the people, and a piece of the bigger picture for land protection in the Hatlem Creek subwatershed.” The Waldenmyer property adjoins protected land owned by the VanZoeren family, who graciously granted them an access easement they needed in order to meet county regulations to sell the Conservancy the property. “No matter what happens, the family will always be able to hike and enjoy the new preserve, as they always have.”

“Jann and I imagined what could happen and that drove us, but we never would have sold it to anyone but the Leelanau Conservancy,” says Gordon.

Home to the Endangered Michigan monkey-flower

Hatlem Creek is the prime tributary flowing into Glen Lake. Protecting this fragile creek and the lands that surround it is critical to the health of the lake and watershed. It also is home to the endangered Michigan monkey-flower.

Increased construction along lakes and streams has destroyed monkey-flower habitat. Because the monkey-flower needs flowing spring water, road construction and other activities that affect water drainage also affect the species. Michigan monkey-flowers now survive at only 12 sites in Michigan. Two-thirds of the plants are on private property. Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo by Borealis Botanicals

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/27/hatlem-creek-preserve-grows-72-acres-thanks-waldenmyer-family/feed/0Dechow Family Preserves 105 Acres in the Bohemian Valleyhttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/26/dechow-family-preserves-105-acres-bohemian-valley/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/26/dechow-family-preserves-105-acres-bohemian-valley/#respondMon, 26 Mar 2018 15:33:02 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20138Dr. Paul Dechow takes his family history very seriously. His relatives bear the names of some of the county’s earliest European settlers: Shalda and Basch, Kelderhouse and Kessel–one of the founding families of North Unity. In fact his great-great grandfather, Friederich Dechow, in 1857 purchased the land known as the iconic Dechow farm along M22. […]

]]>Dr. Paul Dechow takes his family history very seriously. His relatives bear the names of some of the county’s earliest European settlers: Shalda and Basch, Kelderhouse and Kessel–one of the founding families of North Unity. In fact his great-great grandfather, Friederich Dechow, in 1857 purchased the land known as the iconic Dechow farm along M22. It is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Over the Christmas holiday, sitting in their living room that overlooks the Bohemian Valley, Paul and his wife, Joanne, talk about their own Leelanau history. Son Ian, 24, listens to his parents speak about how they came to own this land, and what inspired them to donate a conservation easement that will forever protect their 105 acres in the valley.

View of the preserved land by Paul Dechow.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means for me to spend time here,” says Paul, gazing off toward the distant ridgeline. “This has always been home, and it was for my parents as well, who met at St. Paul’s church in Good Harbor.” Paul, the youngest of four, was born in Battle Creek, where his father had taken a job as a school principal in the 1950s. But Leelanau was always home, and the family came north at every opportunity to a small house on Wheeler Road that Paul’s father built in the 1930s. Paul recalls many trips to Leelanau, filled with hiking and hunting in the woods, fishing for pike on School Lake, and visiting many offshoots of his large and extended family.

Paul’s great great-grandfather, Friederich Dechow, with his third wife, Friederike Bollnitz Dechow, and son Charles. taken around 1865, when the Dechows had been in Port Oneida for 8 years.

Deep Leelanau Roots

“I was related to just about everyone I met,” adds Paul, noting that his great grandfather had over 80 grandchildren and 200 great-grandchildren, including Paul. Joanne was raised in Baltimore and fell in love with Leelanau on her first visit with Paul in summer, 1972. Today the couple lives in Dallas, where Paul is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Texas A & M University College of Dentistry. Joanne is an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer treatment and genetic counseling. They continue to visit their home in Leelanau at every opportunity.

A Commitment to the Land

They purchased the land at auction in 1985, originally settled by Paul’s great-great uncle, Frank Shalda. The Dechows were newly married and living in Ann Arbor. Joanne was in the midst of her residency; Paul was doing research and teaching at the University of Michigan in a post doctorate position. They had $2,000 in the bank and withdrew every penny for a down payment. It would be 10 more years before they could afford to build the house.

Paul Dechow with son, Ian, with the protected property in the background.

Their now-protected land borders the national park and would be a prime spot for development. It takes in five acres of wetlands important to the health of Good Harbor Bay as well as agricultural areas Paul hopes to revitalize. We head out to snowshoe around the property, where Paul says he sees deer and turkeys regularly; bobcat, coyotes and bear on occasion. On a recent walk, he flushed 20 grouse.

The family is dedicated to caring for their land. “It was a mess when we bought it,” says Paul. There were 20 junk cars and 130 tires to dispose of. In a small old farmhouse on the property, where Paul’s cousin had lived, they found moth-eaten furs drying in the attic and 200 quarts of preserves from the 1950s in the basement. Paul dreams of improving and repurposing the house and maybe even a nearby outhouse, now covered in vines.

Paul stand near the thresher where, as a boy, it was his job to hold the sacks as the grain flowed in.

A Fascination With the Past

Ian and his sister, Monica, annually posed for photographs by the outhouse to document their growth. We pass a rusting threshing machine; Paul recalls it was his job to hold the burlap sacks as the grain poured in. Back in the house, we visit the basement where he shows off a wardrobe used by his ancestors; at one time it would have held all the clothing for a family of 12. Paul has restored it and cherishes items like these—as well as the thousands of photographs he has collected—that detail the family’s history.

Paul’s fascination with the past was sparked early on by listening to his great aunt, Olive Dechow Mannes, tell stories over big family dinners. He has since assembled a book that meticulously documents his ancestors’ place in Leelanau. Every year he shares stories and photos at the Dechow Farm during the Port Oneida Fair.

Paul and Joanne have long wanted to protect their land and now was the right time. “Our salaries are at their peak so the timing was financial in terms of tax advantages, but that’s not why we did it,” says Paul. In a few years they plan to retire and spend more time in Leelanau.

“Our main motive was to keep the land in its original state, for future generations,” says Joanne. “We really didn’t want to see it developed.”

Why Protect Private Lands?

The Conservancy has worked with 170 landowners like the Dechows to protect cherished family lands and we all reap the benefit. These places help to protect clean water, spectacular roadside views and wildlife habitat. When you are driving around Leelanau County, you may not even realize the landscape you love will always stay that way. Did you know that over two thirds of the lands we have permanently protected since 1988 remain in private hands and stay on the tax rolls? Over 9,000 acres of working farmland and private natural lands are forever preserved with conservation easements. Read more landowner stories on our website. —Published in the Spring 2018 Newsletter

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/26/dechow-family-preserves-105-acres-bohemian-valley/feed/0Protecting Leelanau’s Clean Water–How You Can Helphttp://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/20/protecting-leelanaus-clean-water-can-help/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/20/protecting-leelanaus-clean-water-can-help/#respondTue, 20 Mar 2018 14:59:49 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20031“The one thing that binds us together and assures our economic vitality is water. If we lost our quality of water, or even if there was a perception of the loss of our quality of water, we would lose an enormous amount of our appeal. It would affect our property values, our lifestyle and our […]

“The one thing that binds us together and assures our economic vitality is water. If we lost our quality of water, or even if there was a perception of the loss of our quality of water, we would lose an enormous amount of our appeal. It would affect our property values, our lifestyle and our economy. What if we were to put together a group of people from all of the different organizations that have to do with water quality, determine a baseline of what is being done and then come up with a vision of how to ensure that future generations will enjoy the kind of water quality that we do?” –County Commissioner Bob Hawley at the very first “Leelanau Clean Water” (LCW) meeting in 2008.

Interestingly, when LCW was formed, the Leelanau Conservancy had already spent 15+ years monitoring and recording water quality on seven county lakes and their tributaries. Our work fit right in with the group’s goals to protect water resources, to promote public awareness of issues that threaten our water, and to provide information so that the public could take part in decision-making. And so we have partnered with LCW and served on their board ever since

Photo by Maria Garcia Bulkley

Every summer, staff and volunteers collect samples which monitor elements such as phosphorus and nitrogen (both promote algae growth). The data is entered into a database housed on our website which shows trends over time. The Conservancy shares this data annually with the lake associations, universities and local groups including Leelanau’s Board of Commissioners in the hopes that the data will impact decision making that helps rather than hurts our water quality.

In 2017, a student at Grand Valley State University analyzed 25 years of our data and issued a report. GVSU Professor Megan Woller-Skar (who also served as Leelanau Conservancy’s Stewardship Director from 2001-2005) summarized the findings:

“Results showed the highest concentrations of nutrients in the early 1990s. Overall, it looks like there has been improvement in water quality (nutrients) since then. You would expect change over 25 years in any data set, and in this case we are doing better. However, we need to look at the system as a whole, not just the nutrient results.”

“Depth matters: with increasing temperatures, shallower lakes warm sooner and stay warm for a longer period of time. There were also trends noticed seasonally. Every lake shows higher levels of nutrients in the spring versus the summer or fall. Spring snow-melt likely causes increases in nutrients from non-point sources like run-off from farms, septic systems and manicured lawns. The warming trend, combined with increased human use, may cause algal blooms to increase.”

Photo by Betsy Schneider

What You Can Do to Protect Leelanau’s Water

Pump your septic system every three years

Establish a buffer of plants between your home and the water to absorb runoff pollutants

Don’t fertilize your lawn; use lake water to irrigate

Reduce E. Coli bacteria by not feeding waterfowl

Clean up all the pet waste near water

Haul leaves way from shore; don’t rake them into water

Power wash our boat after leaving every water body to prevent spreading invasive species

Save the Date! Leelanau Clean Water – Water Quality Consortium Wednesday, June 13

The Leelanau Conservancy is partnering with Leelanau Clean Water to host a Water Quality Consortium to showcase the water quality data collected in Leelanau County. Learn what it all means and how we can set county-wide goals to maintain and improve water quality in our five major watersheds. Please save the date for Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 11-2 at the Leelanau School. More details to come.

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/20/protecting-leelanaus-clean-water-can-help/feed/02018 Field Season Priorities for Stewardship Crew and Volunteers!http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/10/2018-field-season-priorities-stewardship-crew-volunteers/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/10/2018-field-season-priorities-stewardship-crew-volunteers/#respondSat, 10 Mar 2018 16:01:41 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=20028Stewardship Update for the 2018 Field Season We’re excited for the upcoming field season and have much on our to-do list. Thanks to the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, we will have three members this season to help care for our lands. Andrea Hunt arrived in January and will serve as a crew leader, harnessing the […]

Garlic mustard is an invasive plant and we have big plans to attack it this spring with the help of goats and volunteers!

We’re excited for the upcoming field season and have much on our to-do list. Thanks to the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, we will have three members this season to help care for our lands. Andrea Hunt arrived in January and will serve as a crew leader, harnessing the power of our volunteers and making sure that their valuable time is rewarding. Two other AmeriCorps members will start in May. “They’ll hit the ground running,” says Natural Areas and Preserves Manager Becky Hill, who, along with fellow staffers Emily Douglas and Claire Wood also served in AmeriCorps. “They will bring a passion and an energy that will increase our efficiency and our capacity. I can’t wait!”

Let’s Get to Work! These are our most pressing projects coming up this field season:

Wage war on garlic mustard with goats and volunteers. Yes, goats! An army of rent-a-goats will vacation at Clay Cliffs starting in May, “conservation grazing” on the densest infestation along M-22. They will munch plants to the ground before they can produce billions of seeds. The goats will be corralled with a temporary solar-powered electric fence and will bed down on site. Staff and volunteers will be freed up to concentrate on areas where the plant is sparse, pulling to prevent further spreading. Join us at a workbee to see the goats in action!

Oversee the construction of a new 5-mile mountain biking trail at Palmer Woods. We expect to have a contractor selected to begin trailbuilding by spring and permanent signage going up this summer. Stay tuned for lots of exciting progress here this year!

Restore the trail at Whaleback. The steep grade of this trail (above) has caused erosion over the years. Plans call for “water bars” to be installed, which will direct runoff away from the trail.

Improve the Kehl Lake boardwalk and observation deck. High water has wreaked havoc on this old structure. Stay tuned and if you have carpentry skills, please get in touch!

Blaze a new trail at DeYoung Natural Area. Thanks to volunteers from Chemical Bank, we got a great start on this new figure-eight shaped trail.

]]>http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/10/2018-field-season-priorities-stewardship-crew-volunteers/feed/0Goats, Garlic Mustard, and Great Volunteers (Oh My!)http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/07/goats-garlic-mustard-great-volunteers-oh/
http://leelanauconservancy.org/blog/2018/03/07/goats-garlic-mustard-great-volunteers-oh/#respondWed, 07 Mar 2018 21:02:17 +0000http://leelanauconservancy.org/?p=19985You heard that right, goats! An army of rent-a-goats will vacation at Clay Cliffs Natural Area starting in May, “conservation grazing” on the densest infestation of garlic mustard known to our properties along M-22. Garlic mustard is an invasive species that crowds out native plants, and could threaten the many beautiful wildflowers like the pink […]

]]>You heard that right, goats! An army of rent-a-goats will vacation at Clay Cliffs Natural Area starting in May, “conservation grazing” on the densest infestation of garlic mustard known to our properties along M-22. Garlic mustard is an invasive species that crowds out native plants, and could threaten the many beautiful wildflowers like the pink ladyslippers found at Clay Cliffs.

Luckily, goats love to eat garlic mustard and will munch plants to the ground before they produce billions of seeds. The goats will be corralled with a temporary solar-powered electric fence and will bed down in a livestock trailer at night. Staff and volunteers will be freed up to pull at areas where the plant is sparse to help control its spread.